Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton,
D-N.Y., is greeted by cheers at a rally in North Bergen
Wednesday night, sponsored by the Latino PAC Alliance, a
coalition of six New Jersey organizations. (Photo by Michael
Karas/Herald News)

Latinos cheer
Clinton in N.J. visit

By PAUL BRUBAKER, HERALD NEWS |
01/24/08 02:11 AM
NORTH BERGEN -- Propelled by hopes for national immigration
reform, Passaic County Latinos joined hundreds who rallied
Wednesday night for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, the
Democratic presidential front-runner in New Jersey
And Clinton, more than an hour late and hoarse from an earlier
Hackensack campaign stop, delivered her immigration platform
with Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez at her side.
"I think we've got to bring people out of the
shadows," Clinton said. "I believe that having people
– 12 to 14 million of them here undocumented – is just a
recipe for exploitation, for abuse, for
demagoguery."Clinton advocated registration of undocumented
persons, and having them pay fines and back income taxes for
breaking immigration laws. Criminals should be deported, she
said.

"That is the only practical,
realistic solution," Clinton said. "It is in keeping
with our values as a nation of immigrants and in keeping with
the rule of law."
The event, billed in Spanish as "Together with Hillary, to
a Better Life," was sponsored by the Latino PAC Alliance, a
coalition of six New Jersey organizations, including the
Peruvian American Political Action Committee of Paterson, which
has about 1,500 members.
Earlier in the day, the New York junior senator appeared in
Hackensack, where she picked up the endorsement of Bergen County
Democratic Committee Chairman Joe Ferriero.
Before the rally, Miguel Diaz, a Dominican, Democrat and
perennial Paterson City Council candidate, said it was Clinton's
established political base that set her apart from Sen. Barack
Obama of Illinois and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.
We are going to mobilize that base to get out the vote,"
Diaz said.
A Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday indicated 49
percent of the Garden State's Democrats who intend to vote in
the Feb. 5 presidential primary were behind Clinton, with Obama
following with 32 percent and Edwards trailing with 10 percent.
For months, Clinton also has enjoyed the party support of many
of the state's leading Democrats, including Gov. Jon S. Corzine,
and Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-Paterson.
Clinton also picked up the endorsement on Wednesday of
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell.
"It's not just Hillary. It is also the people behind
her," said Diaz. "These endorsements have been made by
people who care about the Latino community."
Norberto Curitomai, president of the Peruvian American Political
Action Committee, said Clinton's experience as first lady and
senator made her the best candidate to tackle issues such as
health care, the economy, the Iraq war and the nation's global
reputation.
But he also noted that for many Latinos, Clinton's greatest
distinction is her alignment with immigration reform proponents,
including Sen. Robert Menendez, a former Hudson County
Democratic Party chairman.
"She said that one of the priorities in the next
administration, if she wins, will be immigration. We believe
it," said Curitomai, who has in his Paterson office a
freshly framed photograph of him and Clinton taken a few months
ago.
But with catch words like "change" and
"hope" that have marked this political year's
campaigns, comprehensive immigration reform can mean many things
to different people.
Diaz believes in amnesty for law-abiding people, struggling to
become viable in the U.S. economy.
For Curitomai, immigration reform legislation must seek to
reunite families separated by borders. Husbands and wives,
parents and children kept apart by the current U.S. immigration
system have taken a backseat to an immigrant's educational or
professional background, he said.
But on Wednesday night, Clinton said she and Menendez had worked
to fix that very problem in the U.S. Senate, and vowed to
correct it if elected president.
"I believe in the American dream for everybody,"
Clinton said. "I want to do what I can to make sure the
dream stays alive."
Reach Paul Brubaker at 973-569-7155 or brubaker@northjersey.com.

In a rare courting of the Garden State by a presidential
candidate during primary season, Clinton held rallies in
Hackensack and North Bergen less than two weeks before New
Jersey's contest.

The visit, political observers say, vindicates the state's
decision to advance the presidential primary to February from
June. The move made New Jersey, where the former first lady
commands a lead over Democratic rival Barack Obama, a suddenly
attractive mate to presidential suitors.

"I think it's both significant and historic," said
Bergen County Democratic chairman Joseph Ferriero of Clinton's
visit. "It's not often that you have a presidential
candidate come to Bergen County before the primary."

"It goes to the fact that we're really relevant in the
state now in the primary season," said Democratic state
chairman, Sen. Joseph Cryan, D-Union.

Both Clinton and Obama courted Ferriero for his endorsement -
and the organizational manpower that would come with the
backing of the Democratic leader of the state's most populous
county.

On Wednesday, Ferriero said he was firmly with Clinton. And he
backed his commitment with money and a pledge to dispatch a
deep bench of party loyalists.

Early in the evening, Ferriero hosted a private, $2,300-a-head
fundraiser for Clinton at The Stony Hill Inn in Hackensack,
the tony locker room of Bergen County's power base. Then he
assembled a rally for her at the auditorium of The Bergen
Academies in Hackensack, where just about all of the county's
Democratic elected officials – all seven freeholders, the
sheriff, state legislators, and an assortment of mayors and
council members - promised to work on the Clinton's behalf.

Clinton, who arrived nearly 90 minutes to the rally, greeted
hundred of supporters - but made sure to also thank the party
Joes - Ferriero and Cryan.

"I was told if you say thanks to Joe in New Jersey, a lot
of people will be thanked," she said.

She discussed policy, pledging universal health care, an
overhaul of the student loan industry and promising to
"responsibly" remove troops from Iraq within the
first months of her administration.

"Within 60 days of my becoming president, we are
leaving!" she said of Iraq.

The crowd of mainly women, seniors and high school students
rose to their feet, waved signs and snapped photographs, and
later asked for her autograph.

"I touched her!" said an excited Marjorie
Santoro, a math teacher at a Hackensack Middle School who wore
a Clinton t-shirt for the occasion. "She has such soft,
beautiful hands."

"I came here expecting to be a supporter of her, but she
just touched my soul" said Linda Flynn, a Hackensack
middle school teacher, who wore a Hillary t-shirt and squealed
when Clinton, took notice during the rally. Flynn said she was
particularly impressed with Clinton's education policy, saying
that the Bush administration's No Child Left Behind policy
places too much emphasis on standardized testing.

The visit comes as Clinton's New Jersey campaign is gearing up
its get-out-the-vote operations for the Feb. 5 contest.
Officials have recruited Sylvia Larsen, the New Hampshire
Senate president, who helped lead the successful turnout
operations that restored Clinton's campaign there following
her loss in the Iowa caucuses.

Obama supporters said they were unruffled by Clinton's
collection of endorsement in Jersey.

"The Clintons are the establishment candidates,"
said Newark mayor Cory Booker, who was stumping for Obama
Wednesday in South Carolina. "They're going to get a lot
of the typical party apparatus supporting them. … It's to be
expected."

A new Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday shows
Clinton with a 48 to 32 percent lead over Obama among likely
voters. Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards came in third
with 10 percent and Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich fourth
with 1 percent.

The poll was conducted between Jan. 15 and Tuesday. It had a
margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percent.

Clinton also courted the Hispanic vote Wednesday, stopping at
an evening rally in North Bergen to implore Latinos to turn
out on Primary Day. Sen. Robert Menendez, a national
co-chairman of Clinton's campaign, helped organize the rally,
which was hosted by the Latino PAC Alliance, a newly-formed
coalition of Latino organizations and Hispanic politicians
from across the state.

Several candidates have started turning their attention
towards the Latino vote - which comprises just 9 percent of
the nationwide electorate - but has the potential to deliver a
swing vote in a tight race.

Hispanics are the largest and fastest-growing minority group
in the country, and now account for 10 percent of the eligible
voting population in New Jersey.

In North Bergen, Clinton spoke in detail of her support for
comprehensive immigration reform that would emphasize border
security and employer sanctions for hiring the undocumented.
But Clinton said she would stand firm against the forcible
separation of mixed-status families and work to give the
estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. a
path towards legalization.

Clinton is heavily favored among Hispanics as the Democratic
nominee, according to a recent poll by the Pew Hispanic
Center, which found that nationwide 59% support Clinton,
followed by 15% for Obama.

"We see Hillary as a senator who has struggled for the
interests of the Latino community," said Romi Herrera, a
Peruvian activist from Paterson who helped organize
Wednesday's rally.

"I'm 19 and this is my first election," said Kevin
Tafur of Jersey City. "I read her book and I thought it
was great. She cares a lot about the environment and global
warming. She's like – a true American."

In a rare courting of the Garden
State by a presidential candidate during primary season, Clinton
held rallies in Hackensack and North Bergen less than two weeks
before New Jersey's contest.

The visit, political observers
say, vindicates the state's decision to advance the presidential
primary to February from June. The move made New Jersey, where
the former first lady commands a lead over Democratic rival
Barack Obama, a suddenly attractive mate to presidential
suitors.

"I think it's both
significant and historic," said Bergen County Democratic
chairman Joseph Ferriero of Clinton's visit. "It's not
often that you have a presidential candidate come to Bergen
County before the primary."

"It goes to the fact that
we're really relevant in the state now in the primary
season," said Democratic state chairman, Sen. Joseph Cryan,
D-Union.

Both Clinton and Obama courted
Ferriero for his endorsement - and the organizational manpower
that would come with the backing of the Democratic leader of the
state's most populous county.

On Wednesday, Ferriero said he
was firmly with Clinton. And he backed his commitment with money
and a pledge to dispatch a deep bench of party loyalists.

Early in the evening, Ferriero
hosted a private, $2,300-a-head fundraiser for Clinton at The
Stony Hill Inn in Hackensack, the tony locker room of Bergen
County's power base. Then he assembled a rally for her at the
auditorium of The Bergen Academies in Hackensack, where just
about all of the county's Democratic elected officials – all
seven freeholders, the sheriff, state legislators, and an
assortment of mayors and council members - promised to work on
the Clinton's behalf.

Clinton, who arrived nearly 90
minutes to the rally, greeted hundred of supporters - but made
sure to also thank the party Joes - Ferriero and Cryan.

"I was told if you say
thanks to Joe in New Jersey, a lot of people will be
thanked," she said.

She discussed policy, pledging
universal health care, an overhaul of the student loan industry
and promising to "responsibly" remove troops from Iraq
within the first months of her administration.

"Within 60 days of my
becoming president, we are leaving!" she said of Iraq.

The crowd of mainly women,
seniors and high school students rose to their feet, waved signs
and snapped photographs, and later asked for her autograph.

"I touched her!"
said an excited Marjorie Santoro, a math teacher at a Hackensack
Middle School who wore a Clinton t-shirt for the occasion.
"She has such soft, beautiful hands."

"I came here expecting to be
a supporter of her, but she just touched my soul" said
Linda Flynn, a Hackensack middle school teacher, who wore a
Hillary t-shirt and squealed when Clinton, took notice during
the rally. Flynn said she was particularly impressed with
Clinton's education policy, saying that the Bush
administration's No Child Left Behind policy places too much
emphasis on standardized testing.

The visit comes as Clinton's New
Jersey campaign is gearing up its get-out-the-vote operations
for the Feb. 5 contest. Officials have recruited Sylvia Larsen,
the New Hampshire Senate president, who helped lead the
successful turnout operations that restored Clinton's campaign
there following her loss in the Iowa caucuses.

Obama supporters said they were
unruffled by Clinton's collection of endorsement in Jersey.

"The Clintons are the
establishment candidates," said Newark mayor Cory Booker,
who was stumping for Obama Wednesday in South Carolina.
"They're going to get a lot of the typical party apparatus
supporting them. … It's to be expected."

A new Quinnipiac University poll
released Wednesday shows Clinton with a 48 to 32 percent lead
over Obama among likely voters. Former North Carolina Sen. John
Edwards came in third with 10 percent and Ohio Congressman
Dennis Kucinich fourth with 1 percent.

The poll was conducted between
Jan. 15 and Tuesday. It had a margin of error of plus or minus
4.9 percent.

Clinton also courted the Hispanic
vote Wednesday, stopping at an evening rally in North Bergen to
implore Latinos to turn out on Primary Day. Sen. Robert
Menendez, a national co-chairman of Clinton's campaign, helped
organize the rally, which was hosted by the Latino PAC Alliance,
a newly-formed coalition of Latino organizations and Hispanic
politicians from across the state.

Several candidates have started
turning their attention towards the Latino vote - which
comprises just 9 percent of the nationwide electorate - but has
the potential to deliver a swing vote in a tight race.

Hispanics are the largest and
fastest-growing minority group in the country, and now account
for 10 percent of the eligible voting population in New Jersey.

In North Bergen, Clinton spoke in
detail of her support for comprehensive immigration reform that
would emphasize border security and employer sanctions for
hiring the undocumented. But Clinton said she would stand firm
against the forcible separation of mixed-status families and
work to give the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in
the U.S. a path towards legalization.

Clinton is heavily favored among
Hispanics as the Democratic nominee, according to a recent poll
by the Pew Hispanic Center, which found that nationwide 59%
support Clinton, followed by 15% for Obama.

"We see Hillary as a senator
who has struggled for the interests of the Latino
community," said Romi Herrera, a Peruvian activist from
Paterson who helped organize Wednesday's rally.

"I'm 19 and this is my first
election," said Kevin Tafur of Jersey City. "I read
her book and I thought it was great. She cares a lot about the
environment and global warming. She's like – a true
American." E-mail: henrys@northjersey.com and carmiel@northjersey.com

U.S.
Sen. Hillary Clinton will court the New Jersey Latino vote
on Wednesday, adding a North Bergen appearance to a Bergen
County visit the same day.

Organizers hope the Democratic senator from New York will
draw large crowds and numerous prominent Latino politicians.

Several Hispanic groups from around the state have formed an
umbrella organization called the Latino PAC Alliance to
support Clinton’s candidacy, and they expect more than
1,000 people at the North Bergen rally.

“This presidential election is the most important election
ever for the Latino community,” Norberto Curitomai,
co-chairman of the alliance, said in Spanish. “After what
has happened during the past few years to our communities,
we need to elect someone who is pro-immigrant and who will
address the worsening social and economic crisis in this
country — someone with experience on these issues.”

The alliance’s committee members include U.S. Sen. Robert
Menendez, D-N.J., and Bergen County Freeholder Chairman
Tomas Padilla, Mayors Joey Torres of Paterson and Jorge
Meneses of Hackensack, among others.

The rally, which will be free and open to the public, will
start at 6 p.m. at Schuetzen Park at 3167 Kennedy Blvd.

Clinton is also scheduled to meet Wednesday with Joseph
Ferriero, chairman of the Bergen County Democratic
Organization, to accept the group’s endorsement.

U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton
will court the New Jersey Latino vote on Wednesday, adding a
North Bergen appearance to a Bergen County visit the same
day.

FILE PHOTO

Organizers hope Sen. Hillary
Clinton will draw large crowds and prominent Latino
politicians to a North Bergen rally.

Organizers hope the Democratic
senator from New York will draw large crowds and numerous
prominent Latino politicians.

Several Hispanic groups from
around the state have formed an umbrella organization called the
Latino PAC Alliance to support Clinton’s candidacy, and they
expect more than 1,000 people at the North Bergen rally.

“This presidential election is
the most important election ever for the Latino community,”
Norberto Curitomai, co-chairman of the alliance, said in
Spanish. “After what has happened during the past few years to
our communities, we need to elect someone who is pro-immigrant
and who will address the worsening social and economic crisis in
this country — someone with experience on these issues.”

The alliance’s committee
members include U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and Bergen
County Freeholder Chairman Tomas Padilla, Mayors Joey Torres of
Paterson and Jorge Meneses of Hackensack, among others.

The rally, which will be free and
open to the public, will start at 6 p.m. at Schuetzen Park at
3167 Kennedy Blvd.

Clinton is also scheduled to meet
Wednesday with Joseph Ferriero, chairman of the Bergen County
Democratic Organization, to accept the group’s endorsement.

Norberto
Curitomai

Dear Friends:

Political empowerment is not a game of numbers, despite the fact that Latino Community is growing at a record pace. The new era of immigrants is not supported by political action, political choice or Latino leadership.

As many divergent groups before us, Latino community continues to struggle. The lack of bi-lingual emphasis in schools, after the attack of
September the 11 the government renewed it policies and enforce deportation. This police destroys families and develops a strong anti-immigrant (or anti-illegal immigrant) sentiment.

We the
American Latinos must continue to unite and support issues which will lend themselves to economic self-sufficiency, excellence in academics and political solutions for legislative empowerment. We must strive hard to be good Americans and incorporate our blended heritages into this country of freedom
and we must vote as Latino-Americans voting for issues and officials that will support our unique challenges and benefit us in goals to share in the American dream.

Our heartfelt gratitude goes to the men and women to the
military forces they are our true heroes, to all elected officials of all designations
who enhance our lives
Sincerely